Judges hailed the arrival of a talent "ready to break through into the big time" as they awarded Alasdair Beckett-King this year's career-making Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year award.

Confidently taking a fresh seven-minute set for a spin, the tall, affable and spectacularly flame-haired comic took the audience at the Y Theatre apart, getting thunderous laughs from the moment he first appeared.

Judge Steve North, general manager of Dave TV, said, a "perfectly polished performance" which moved rapidly between different comic styles.

He said afterwards: "It was a really tough call tonight; there were nuggets of genius in every act.

"But Alasdair was really polished. He was unhurried and had energy; he switched between three or four types of comedy, showing real invention.

"He is really ready to break through into the big time."

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Speaking to the Leicester Mercury shortly after compere Carly Smallman announced the winner on stage, Alasdair – who works as a filmmaker, animator and computer game creator – said he had fully expected not to win.

He said: "It's weird, you know, because you're not used to competing against other comedians. I know some of these people well. You have to imagine it's just another show.

"I was convinced (runner-up) Sindhu Vee would win so I'm very surprised: it's a huge thing.

"I decided not to use old material; this needed a fresh set. I have jokes which refer to me looking a bit like Jesus but in seven minutes you can't waste time. The audience will already be comparing me to Jesus in their head anyway."

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In the past, winners of the award – like Jonny Vegas, Josh Widdecombe and Romesh Ranganathan – have seen their profiles soar as a result, landing prime roles on TV and national tours.

Alasdair said: "Well no, you see I intend to be the first winner to really flop. To really fail to get anywhere from this.

"But I do have my first show at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, a full hour, so that's very exciting."

Sindhu Vee

Runner-up Sindhu Vee gave the audience a fresh perspective on life as an Indian mother living and working in England, getting a lot of laughs by contrasting Indian and English parenting styles.

And throughout the night, all six other nominees – Alex Mahoney (a self-deprecating set from the Welshman), Kelly Convey (a Chatham girl deconstructing the Chav), Ed Night (London comic skewering Come Dine With Me), Tom Houghton (camp-but-not-gay comic mocking his own privileged childhood), George Rigden (cocky guitarist with a penchant for impromptu serenades to audience members), and Tom Mayhew (painfully shy one-liners) – described a diverse and creative future for British stand-up.